Buccleuch Park in New Brunswick was draped in scarlet on Friday for the annual Homecoming Kickoff Festival — a pep rally and carnival centered around the football team’s Saturday game against Texas Southern University.
The visit from the football team and performances by the cheerleaders, dance team and marching band made the festival a success for the thousands of returning alumni, students and community members present, University President Richard L. McCormick said.
“I think Homecoming weekend is such an exciting thing for the University and especially its alumni. … The most wonderful thing here are the Rutgers alumni and their families,” he said.
Alumni Relations planned much of the festival since last May, said Homecoming Director and Assistant Manager of Event Services Jodi Stolow.
They added a singing contest this year, “Homecoming Idol,” putting a University spin on the popular television show “American Idol.”
University alumna Candice Leigh Helfand was named the first winner of the new competition with her performance of Journey’s “Separate Ways.”
Helfand was one of six finalists who performed at the festival, she said. Viewers chose the finalists from 19 other online video submissions.
“It’s crazy. I was not expecting this, to be honest,” Helfand said.
She said she entered the contest because she wanted to go to the Homecoming football game, which was part of her prize, along with four tickets for “Mamma Mia!” on Broadway and a University gift bag.
The University’s Alumni Association was also responsible for the inflatable rides and carnival-style booth games run by fraternity and sorority members, Stolow said.
School of Arts and Sciences sophomore Chris Saharic was running a speed pitch game with his fraternity, Phi Sigma Kappa.
“We’re all looking to have a good time this weekend, so we figured it would be a good way to give back,” he said.
Stolow said the alumni turnout made the event more exciting.
“We have alumni working and volunteering today, we have them judging on our panels for ‘Homecoming Idol,’ [and] they’re coming to all of the events that we have this weekend,” she said.
Alumnus Chris Taylor said every year, his family makes Homecoming weekend a getaway weekend.
The festival was a great way to kick off all the events planned, he said.
“I was here last year; I think it’s even better this year,” Taylor said. “All the events are very well planned, and I hope they keep doing it every year.”
Stolow was also excited about the large student and community turnout.
“It’s exciting because we work with Alumni Relations, and it’s great we have an impact past our alumni, including our students and our community,” she said. “It’s exactly what we wanted.”
School of Arts and Sciences sophomore Radha Dhar said she had been looking forward to all the events at the carnival.
The pep rally made her more excited for the football game the next day, she said.
“I like the environment,” Dhar said. “The vibe is good; it’s cheerful … it’s a great way to bring the community together.”
The Rutgers University Programming Association and University Student Life also helped plan the carnival and other homecoming events.
RUPA Vice President of Marketing Amit Sinha said RUPA’s involvement included the screening of the movie “Up” after the fireworks show in the park.
“Last year at this carnival we noticed a lot of alumni bringing their children so we just wanted a nice, wholesome family movie,” said Sinha, a School of Engineering junior.
The screening was intended to be outdoors but was moved indoors to Van Dyck Hall on the College Avenue campus due to the chance of rain.
Sinha said this year’s carnival was better than he imagined.
“I think the alumni and everyone who came are really enjoying themselves,” he said. “It’s just nice seeing everyone play the carnival games.”
Homecoming 2009
Published: Sunday, October 11, 2009
Updated: Sunday, October 11, 2009
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